Aerosol charged toothbrush

ABSTRACT

Especially a toothbrush having a brushing head separable from a handle and wherein the handle is an aerosol container that controllably liberates and aerates dentrifice into the brushing head and the aerosol handle being shiftably coupled for actuating the aerosol valve and adapted to be locked for brushing manipulation.

United States Patent lnventor Carl 0. Muglia 1028 Pearl Street, ApL C, Santa Monica, Calif. 90405 Appl. No. 844,441

Filed July 24, 1969 Patented July 13, 1971 AEROSOL CHARGED TOOTHBRUSH 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 401/190 Int. Cl A46b 11/02 Field ol Search 401/190, 135

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,900,651 8/1959 Powell 401/190 2,987,743 6/1 96l Capps 401/135 3,387,911 6/1968 Focht 401/190 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney-William H. Maxwell ABSTRACT: Especially a toothbrush having a brushing head separable from a handle and wherein the handle is an aerosol container that controllably liberates and aerates dentrifice into the brushing head and the aerosol handle being shiftably coupled for actuating the aerosol valve and adapted to be locked for brushing manipulation.

AEROSOL CHARGED TOOTHBRUSH This invention relates to brushes that are used in abrading surfaces with the aid of a cleansing agent. A toothbrush is most representative of this type of brush and is a brush that is used with a cleansing agent or dentifrice. And, since a toothbrush is a personal effect used for hygiene, it is carried by a person wherever he may travel, and there are persons who keep their toothbrushing effects available at all times. Consequently, there is a recognized need for a portable toothbrush and as well for a supply of dentifrice to be used therewith. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a combined brush and cleanser supply, especially suited for use in conducting personal dental hygiene and namely for brushing ones teeth with a prepared dentifrice.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined brush and cleanser supply utilizing an aerosol container of said cleanser and which controllably prepares the same by aerating it upon its liberation, whereby a concentrated supply is held available and which expands in volume as a foam when discharged into the brushing head.

It is another object of this invention to provide a compact combination of brushing head and aerosol container, and one that is suitable for use as a toothbrush per se wherein the said aerosol container establishes and becomes an aerosol handle.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a brush and aerosol cleanser supply wherein the brushing head is shiftable relative to the cleanser aerosol supply and thereby adapted to control liberation of the cleanser therefrom, and also adapted to be locked for overall manipulation.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a brush and aerosol handle combination of the type hereinabove referred to and wherein the aerosol handle is readily replaceable and wherein the brushing unit is readily washed or cleansed, and all of which is conducive to cleanliness and sanitary conditions.

The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the combined aerosol charged toothbrush.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the joinder of the brushing head and aerosol handle characterizing the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the operated position of the fluid releasing valve.

The aerosol-charged brush of the present invention is especially adapted to be used in dental hygiene wherein a toothbrush is used in conjunction with a dentifrice, and it is in this connection that it will be herein described. The cleansing agent used in dental hygiene is referred to as a dentifrice and which normally takes various forms such as liquids, pastes and powders. In any event, it is common practice to employ a mild abrasive and various pharmaceutical ingredients conducive to cleaning the teeth. A main feature of most toothpastes is the flavor which is usually included by means of suitable oils; and all of which are mixed and/or combined with a carrier establishing the desired body of the paste. Although such pastes are not necessarily soapy, they do foam and/or tend to froth and serve to carry the active ingredients into interstices and thoroughly disburse so as to be effectively acted upon by abrasion applied dexterously through manipulation of the toothbrush. Such use of a dentifrice is common and its application is usually by means of the so called toothbrush" which is characterized by a long slender handle having an elongated brushing head with short and relatively stiff bristles. Such a dentifrice and such a brushing head are maintained and advantageously combined with an aerosol container for the supply of said dentifrice to said head, as hereinabove described.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings I have shown a typical embodiment of the aerosol charged brush, a toothbrush T, and which is inherently portable being self-contained with its supply of dentifrice. The toothbrush T involves, generally, a brushing head B and an aerosol handle A, the two of which are shiftably coupled for controlled actuation of a valve V by coupling means C. The aerosol handle A is an exchangeably expendable element that is to be replaced after it is exhausted of dentifrice, and a cover D is provided to protect the brushing head B and to function as a top or safety against accidental actuation of the valve V. The device or article can be made of the size and proportions corresponding to the normally acceptable and usual toothbrush.

The brushing head B has the overall appearance and proportions of any usual toothbrush head, and it is characterized by an elongated shank 10 with its outermost end flattened and carrying tufts of bristles 11. The arrangement and mode of bristle attachment can vary widely, and in practice such bristles are installed as rows of tufts, each tuft being carried in and projecting from an opening in the lowermost face 12 of the said flattened portion. As shown, there are three rows of bristle tufts Ill.

In accordance with the invention, the brushing head shank H0 is tubular and serves as a conduit for the transport of fluid cleanser or dentifrice to the bristle-carrying portion. The shank 10 is preferably of a length substantially greater than the length of the flattened portion thereof, and the rearmost end portion 13 remote from the bristles is cylindrical and has a tubular operating stem 14 fixedly projecting therefrom. The shank l0 and stem M are coaxial and a common passage 15 extends therethrough, opening at or into the bristle portion from the face 12.

The aerosol handle A is both the structural handle of the brush and the supply of cleanser or dentifrice therefor. In practice, the aerosol handle A is more or less one-half inch in diameter and about two-thirds the total length of the normal toothbrush. it is contemplated that the aerosol handle A be pressure molded of a structural plastic material, such as a glass-filled plastic that will withstand the continued application of pressure. However, other modes of manufacture are contemplated, such as for example, impact-extruded metal construction. Thus, the aerosol handle A is an elongated cylindrical capsule having imperforate walls, and opened to atmosphere only through the valve V. The valve V is carried at the front wall and closure 16 of the aerosol handle A, while the rear wall 117 is hemispherically or ellipsoidally formed integral with the cylinder wall 18 thereof. Thus, a clean and well appearing handle is formed which performs well when subjected to internal pressures.

The front wall and end closure 16 that retains material under pressure within the chamber of the aerosol handle is applicable to the otherwise open cylindrical end of the cylinder wall 28. The closure 16 is a disc-shaped element having its exterior diameter 19 slideably engaged into a close fitting bore 20 at the open end of the cylinder wall 18. The said exterior diameter 19 and bore 20 are opposedly shouldered at 21, a limited radial distance, so that the closure 16 can be pressed into the bore 20 and secured. A solvent or sealer can be applied at this joinder for leakproof attachment.

The valve V is carried inside the closure 16 and controllably liberates the pressured contents of the aerosol handle through a coaxial opening 22 therethrough. Thus, the opening 22 is accessible at the front face of the closure, and the backface forms a seat 23 for the valve V, for example the disc-shaped valve element shown. The valve V is biased against the seat 23 by a spring 24 retained by a cage 25 shouldered in the wall 18; and it will be apparent that this form of check valve captures the contents under pressure within the aerosol handle A and which can be controllably actuated for liberation of said contents merely by depressing the same axially and rearwardly.

The coupling means C is provided to releasably connect the brushing head B and aerosol handle A and also to provide for manually controlled shifting of elements B and A as well as locked immovable engagement thereof. Despite the basic triple functions of the means C, this means is relatively simple in its form and concept comprising a female cylinder member 30 adapted to slideably receive the rearmost end portion 13 of the brushing head B. Said portion 13 of the brushing head is of a close free-fitting diameter so that it slides longitudinally and rotatably within the cylinder member 30. The member 30 is of sleeve form and has a control lug 31 projecting radially inward and engaged in a controlling slot 32 in the exterior of the end portion 13. The slot 32 has a longitudinal section that permits relative longitudinal movement between the main elements A and B, and it has a lateral section that permits relative rotational movements of the same. In practice, the two movements are limited and accordingly it is preferred that the slot 32 be of T-shape, the head of the T" requiring a snap-on engagement of the two main elements and thereafter limiting the extent of longitudinal movement; and the stem of the 'l'" limiting lateral movement when the lug 31 is aligned therewith. In practice, the lateral section of the slot 32 is convergently tapered and tightly receives the lug 31 so as to frictionally lock the two elements A and 8 against accidental rotation.

The release of material from within the aerosol handle requires the recapture and direction thereof through the passage 15, and to this end a seal 5, preferably a compressible seal of rubber or the like is provided to stop leakage at the sliding joinder of the end portion 13 within the female cylinder member 30. Various forms of seal will suffice and as shown a simple washer surrounds the projecting stem 14, the washer lying against the rear face 36 of the element B and permitting the stem 14 to project therethrough to enter the opening 22 and to depress the valve V from the seat 23. The stem 14 is laterally ported as shown so as to permit entry of material into the passage 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this aerosol-charged brush is advantageously employed as a toothbrush wherein the dentifrice is stored in the handle. Any suitable dentifrice can be employed and preferably one that can be stored as a liquid or light paste and which foams when liberated into atmospherical pressured condition. Such a dentifrice with mild abrasive and containing the usual pharmaceutical ingredients and oils can be sealed by the aerosol valve V, and a sufficient supply for numerous applications can be carried in the one aerosol handle A. In order to use the charged toothbrush hereinabove described, the cover D in the form of a transparent sheath is removed and the brushing head B turned clockwise to the aerosol handle A thereby releasing the coupling means C The brushing head B is then depressed relative to the aerosol handle A in order to open the valve V by means of the stem 14 engaging the same through the opening 22, the released material being transported to the bristles 11. In order to replace an exhausted aerosol handle A it is merely necessary to release the brushing head B by clockwise rotation and to withdraw it axially from the aerosol handle. Locking of the brushing head B with the aerosol handle A is accomplished by revolving the head counterclockwise to the aerosol handle thereby fric tionally engaging the control lug 31 in the literal section of the slot 32. The charged toothbrush is completely self-contained with its supply of dentifrice and is portable, being utilitarium as a personal effect adapted to be carried on or with a person.

Having described only a typical preferred from and application of my invention, 1 do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A fluid-charged brush including; a brushing head having a foremost portion and bristles projecting therefrom and having a tubular shank with a rearwardly extending cylindrical portion, there being a passage extending through the shank and open at the bristles, a concentric stem projecting rearwardly from the shank and having a passage therethrough in open communication with the first-mentioned passage, an aerosol handle having imperforate walls forming a storage chamber therein and open at its forward end of the aerosol handle and having a concentric opening therethrough receiving said stem with clearance and surrounded by a rearwardly disposed seat, there being a valve member with means biasing the same forwardly into engagement upon the seat, said aerosol handle being filled with pressurized fluid, and manually releasable and lockable coupling means comprising a cylinder member extending forwardly from the aerosol handle and shiftably receiving the cylindrical portion of the shank and connecting the brushing head and aerosol handle to be manually operable when manually released to permit movemetnt of the brushing head relative to the aerosol handle and the stem into unseating engagement with the valve member for discharge of fluid from the aerosol handle and into the confines of the said cylindrical portion rearward of the said cylinder member and fixed when manually locked to move the brushing head with manipulation of the aerosol handle.

2. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said stem projects rearwardly from the said cylindrical portion of and moves with the shank with said clearance into the said concentric opening in the aerosol handle closure.

3. The fluid charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said closure is secured over the otherwise open end of the aerosol handle.

4. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said closure is secured over the otherwise open end of the aerosol handle and positions means seating a spring of said biasing means to press the valve member forwardly.

5. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim l and wherein the said coupling means comprises a radially disposed control lug extending between the said cylindrical portion of the shank and the said cylinder member and engageable with a control slot, said slot having a longitudinally disposed section and a lateral circumferentially disposed section, the control lug being guided by the first-mentioned longitudinally disposed section to permit relative longitudinal movement of the brushing head and aerosol handle and being locked against said movement by engagement of the control lug in the lateral section of the control slot.

6. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim l and wherein the said coupling means comprises a control lug projecting radially inward from the said cylinder member, and wherein the said shank of the brushing head comprises a control slot in the said cylindrical portion and having a longitudinally disposed convergently tapered section and a lateral circumferentially disposed section, the control lug being guided by the first-mentioned longitudinally disposed section to permit relative longitudinal movement of the brushing head and aerosol handle and being locked against said movement by frictional engagement of the control lug in the lateral section of the control slot.

7. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said stem is surrounded by an elastomeric seal engaged with and sealing the brushing head with the aerosol handle 8. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the stem is surrounded by an elastomeric seal sealing therewith and with the surrounding first-mentioned cylinder member of the coupling means.

9. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said stem projects rearwardly from and moves with the shank of the brushing head, wherein the said closure is secured over the otherwise open end of the aerosol handle and positions means seating a spring of said biasing means to press the valve member forwardly, wherein the said coupling means comprises a control lug projecting radially inward from the said cylinder member, and wherein the said shank of the brushing head comprises a control slot in the said cylinder portion and having a longitudinally disposed convergently tapered section and a lateral circumferentially disposed section, the control lug being guided by the'first-mentioned longitudinally'disposed section to permit relative longitudinally movement of the brushing head and aerosol handle and being locked against said movement by frictional engagement of the of the Coupling means. 

1. A fluid-charged brush including; a brushing head having a foremost portion and bristles projecting therefrom and having a tubular shank with a rearwardly extending cylindrical portion, there being a passage extending through the shank and open at the bristles, a concentric stem projecting rearwardly from the shank and having a passage therethrough in open communication with the first-mentioned passage, an aerosol handle having imperforate walls forming a storage chamber therein and open at its forward end of the aerosol handle and having a concentric opening therethrough receiving said stem with clearance and surrounded by a rearwardly disposed seat, there being a valve member with means biasing the same forwardly into engagement upon the seat, said aerosol handle being filled with pressurized fluid, and manually releasable and lockable coupling means comprising a cylinder member extending forwardly from the aerosol handle and shiftably receiving the cylindrical portion of the shank and connecting the brushing head and aerosol handle to be manually operable when manually released to permit movemetnt of the brushing head relative to the aerosol handle and the stem into unseating engagement with the valve member for discharge of fluid from the aerosol handle and into the confines of the said cylindrical portion rearward of the said cylinder member and fixed when manually locked to move the brushing head with manipulation of the aerosol handle.
 2. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said stem projects rearwardly from the said cylindrical portion of and moves with the shank with said clearance into the said concentric opening in the aerosol handle closure.
 3. The fluid charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said closure is secured over the otherwise open end of the aerosol handle.
 4. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said closure is secured over the otherwise open end of the aerosol handle and positions means seating a spring of said biasing means to press the valve member forwardly.
 5. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said coupling means comprises a radially disposed control lug extending between the said cylindrical portion of the shank and the said cylinder member and engageable with a control slot, said slot having a longitudinally disposed section and a lateral circumferentially disposed section, the control lug being guided by the first-mentioned longitudinally disposed section to permit relative longitudinal movement of the brushing head and aerosol handle and being locked against said movement by engagement of the control lug in the lateral section of the control slot.
 6. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said coupling means comprises a control lug projecting radially inward from the said cylinder member, and wherein the said shank of the brushing head comprises a control slot in the said cylindrical portion and having a longitudinally disposed convergently tapered section and a lateral circumferentially disposed section, the control lug being guided by the first-mentioned longitudinally disposed section to permit relative longitudinal movement of the brushing head and aerosol handle and being locked against said movement by frictional engagement of the control lug in the lateral section of the control slot.
 7. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said stem is surrounded by an elastomeric seal engaged with and sealing the brushing head with the aerosol handle.
 8. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the stem is surrounded by an elastomeric seal sealing therewith and with the surrounding first-mentioned cylinder member of the coupling means.
 9. The fluid-charged brush as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the said stem projects rearwardly from and moves with the shank of the brushing head, wherein the said closure is secured over the otherwise open end of the aerosol handle and positions means seating a spring of said biasing means to press the valve member forwardly, wherein the said coupling means comprises a control lug projecting radially inward from the said cylinder member, and wherein the said shank of the brushing head comprises a control slot in the said cylinder portion and having a longitudinally disposed convergently tapered section and a lateral circumferentially disposed section, the control lug being guided by the first-mentioned longitudinally disposed section to permit relative longitudinally movement of the brushing head and aerosol handle and being locked against said movement by frictional engagement of the control lug in the lateral section of the control slot, and wherein the said stem is surrounded by an elastomeric seal sealing therewith and with the surrounding cylinder member of the coupling means. 